Florence to Rome - Italy Cycling Tour

Discover a new side of Italy on this self guided tour between Florence and Rome. Your journey will take you through the green heart of Italy allowing you to see the country from another angle and experience the calm, mystical and unexplored roads. You visit cities like Assisi, Perugia, Spoleto or Narni, which have incredible art treasures and carry visitors back into the Middle Ages. The overall appearance of the cities has hardly changed and the landscapes are harmonious and inviting.

Travel along quiet roads through the valleys of the Apennines and through the softly curved hills of the Trasimeno Lakes. Your tour will end in the historical city of Rome where you should put aside your bike and explore all the city has to offer.

Day 1: Arrive in Florence and settle into your hotel before a tour briefing and distribution of rental bikes. After the meeting its time to explore the beautiful centre of Florence.

Day 2: Florence to Passignano sul Trasimeno approx. 60 km (37 miles) by bike and a train journey to Arezzo in the morning.

Set off on the train to Arezzo, one of the wealthiest cities in Tuscany due to its tradition in gold-smithery. Located in southeastern Tuscany, it sits on top of a hill at the crossroads of four valleys, the Val Tiberina, Casentino, Valdarno and Valdichiana. Here you can visit beautiful churches and palaces. Cycle along trails through the vast plains of the Val di Chiana, all the while accompanied by silhouettes of hills and mountains of this Tuscan region. Pass Cortona and finally reach Lake Trasimeno, the battlefield of Hannibal against the Romans. Here you will have a gorgeous views over the Lake. Head on to where you will spend the night in Passignano.

Day 3: Passignano sul Trasimeno to Perugia approx. 35 km (22 miles)

Cycle along the lake to Torricella then head through open fields and rolling hills to the Umbrian capital Perugia. Perugia is also a well-known cultural and artistic centre of Italy. The city hosts many festivals and events throughout the year like the Eurochocolate Festival in October and the Umbria Jazz Festival in July. Take your time and stroll through one of the nicest shopping streets in Italy to the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Palazzo dei Priori or the Arco Etrusco.

Day 4: Perugia to Assisi approx. 30 km (19 miles)

Having crossed the river Tiber, it is only a few kilometres to the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi. However, before you enter this mystical city, take a detour to one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in Umbria, S. M. degli Angeli. In Assisi visit the Basilica di San Francesco and immerse yourself in the colourful world of medieval frescoes by Giotto.

Day 5: Assisi to Spoleto approx. 60 km (37 miles)

Cycle around the foot of Mount Subasio to the old walled medieval town of Spello. Spello lies on a sloping ridge that eventually meets the plain. From the top of the ridge, Spello commands a good view of the Umbrian plain towards Perugia; at the bottom of the ridge, the town spills out of its walls into a small modern section. The ride continues through the Valle Umbra to Spoleto. Cities, such as Montefalco, Trevi, and Campello can be seen on the surrounding hills. The Ponte delle Torri is 236 m long and 90 m high aqueduct and bridge, from here you can enjoy a vertiginous view of the Tessino Canyon, Mount Luco and the former papal fortress of Rocca Albornoz.

Day 6: Spoleto to Narni approx. 45km (28 miles)

Cycle between mountains, through beautiful countryside to Terni. Here you can treat yourself to one of the delicious pastries that Terni is renown, this and having the most creative cuisine in the region. Then on to Narni with its medieval streets that will take you back in time.

Day 7: Narni to Rome approx. 60 km (37 miles) train journey

Cycle through the centre of the green heart of Umbria and past high mountains to Calvi, the last major town in this region. You can still enjoy the quiet and solitude of the Sabine mountains before you take the train to Rome and immerse yourself in the vibrant city.

By Car – Italy can be reached by car via ferry and well-maintained motorways.

Multi-storey car park close to the hotel, costs approx. €20 - €36 per day, to be paid for at the time, no reservation possible/necessary. Car park close to the hotel, costs approx. €70 per week. Free unguarded car park at the periphery.

By Air – Florence, Pisa Airport.

Good train connections from Rome to Florence.

For more information on getting to Italy please visit the Italian Tourism website.

Day 1: Arrive in Florence and settle into your hotel before a tour briefing and distribution of rental bikes. After the meeting its time to explore the beautiful centre of Florence.

Day 2: Florence to Passignano sul Trasimeno approx. 60 km (37 miles) by bike and a train journey to Arezzo in the morning.

Set off on the train to Arezzo, one of the wealthiest cities in Tuscany due to its tradition in gold-smithery. Located in southeastern Tuscany, it sits on top of a hill at the crossroads of four valleys, the Val Tiberina, Casentino, Valdarno and Valdichiana. Here you can visit beautiful churches and palaces. Cycle along trails through the vast plains of the Val di Chiana, all the while accompanied by silhouettes of hills and mountains of this Tuscan region. Pass Cortona and finally reach Lake Trasimeno, the battlefield of Hannibal against the Romans. Here you will have a gorgeous views over the Lake. Head on to where you will spend the night in Passignano.

Day 3: Passignano sul Trasimeno to Perugia approx. 35 km (22 miles)

Cycle along the lake to Torricella then head through open fields and rolling hills to the Umbrian capital Perugia. Perugia is also a well-known cultural and artistic centre of Italy. The city hosts many festivals and events throughout the year like the Eurochocolate Festival in October and the Umbria Jazz Festival in July. Take your time and stroll through one of the nicest shopping streets in Italy to the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Palazzo dei Priori or the Arco Etrusco.

Day 4: Perugia to Assisi approx. 30 km (19 miles)

Having crossed the river Tiber, it is only a few kilometres to the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi. However, before you enter this mystical city, take a detour to one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in Umbria, S. M. degli Angeli. In Assisi visit the Basilica di San Francesco and immerse yourself in the colourful world of medieval frescoes by Giotto.

Day 5: Assisi to Spoleto approx. 60 km (37 miles)

Cycle around the foot of Mount Subasio to the old walled medieval town of Spello. Spello lies on a sloping ridge that eventually meets the plain. From the top of the ridge, Spello commands a good view of the Umbrian plain towards Perugia; at the bottom of the ridge, the town spills out of its walls into a small modern section. The ride continues through the Valle Umbra to Spoleto. Cities, such as Montefalco, Trevi, and Campello can be seen on the surrounding hills. The Ponte delle Torri is 236 m long and 90 m high aqueduct and bridge, from here you can enjoy a vertiginous view of the Tessino Canyon, Mount Luco and the former papal fortress of Rocca Albornoz.

Day 6: Spoleto to Narni approx. 45km (28 miles)

Cycle between mountains, through beautiful countryside to Terni. Here you can treat yourself to one of the delicious pastries that Terni is renown, this and having the most creative cuisine in the region. Then on to Narni with its medieval streets that will take you back in time.

Day 7: Narni to Rome approx. 60 km (37 miles) train journey

Cycle through the centre of the green heart of Umbria and past high mountains to Calvi, the last major town in this region. You can still enjoy the quiet and solitude of the Sabine mountains before you take the train to Rome and immerse yourself in the vibrant city.

Day 8: Departure or extension

Key Details:

Eight day, seven night itinerary.

This tour will start in Florence and end in Rome.

The total distance of this cycling holiday is approximately 285km / 177 miles.

Essential Information:

Individual Tour Saturday arrivals: From April to July & Late August to October

There are lots of attractions and places to explore during your cycling holiday in Italy including:

City of Florence

City of Rome

Apennine Valleys

Trasimeno Lake

Assisi

Perugia

Getting to Italy:

By Rail/Bus – Florence train station

By Car – Italy can be reached by car via ferry and well-maintained motorways.

Multi-storey car park close to the hotel, costs approx. €20 - €36 per day, to be paid for at the time, no reservation possible/necessary. Car park close to the hotel, costs approx. €70 per week. Free unguarded car park at the periphery.

By Air – Florence, Pisa Airport.

Good train connections from Rome to Florence.

For more information on getting to Italy please visit the Italian Tourism website.

Florence - Rome Cycling Tour

Enjoy a beautiful self guided holiday cycling from Florence to Rome, off the beaten track, exploring hidden Italy's unspoilt surroundings. Discover a new side of Italy visit cities like Assisi, Perugia, Spoleto and Narni, displaying an incredible wealth of art treasures, which take their visitors back to the middle Age. Because the shapes of the cities have hardly been changed, the landscape appears harmonious and inviting. Cycle along quiet roads through the Apennine valley, over gentle rolling hills round Lake Trasimeno and through small Umbrian villages. Ravines with raging torrents and flocks of sheep roaming the countryside shape this part of Italy. You end the tour in Rome where you should put aside your bike and explore this lively city on foot. If you want to leave the stress of a hectic world behind you, then you will love this trip and take lots of great memories home.
The tour is mostly flat with some undulations and is mostly on country lanes and minor roads.